The Quebec Living Heritage Council, through its president, Antoine Gauthier, is pleased to have obtained for the next four years a place on the committee which examines and evaluates applications to the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of the UNESCO.
Quebec now has one place on the 12 evaluation positions set up by UNESCO within this structure. This appointment is all the more notable given that Canada is one of the rare Western countries that has still not ratified this convention on heritage: it withdrew from the talks on the subject of the treaty several years ago without really explain his action.
According to UNESCO’s claims, this convention constitutes “a powerful tool” used to ensure the maintenance of cultural diversity and to maintain “local identities in the context of globalization”. This year she is celebrating her 20the birthday. It is signed by 181 countries.
The Quebec Living Heritage Council is no less delighted to have been elected, by 17 votes out of 24, to sit on the UNESCO Evaluation Body. This elective committee is responsible for examining applications for inscription on the living heritage lists as well as requests for international assistance.
Following contributions from 72 countries, the meeting allowed the addition of 55 new elements to the Lists of intangible cultural heritage.
Funds have also been granted as international assistance for projects to safeguard cultural heritage. To date, UNESCO has funded more than 140 projects of this type, spread across more than 70 countries. Some $12 million was granted to projects to ensure the preservation of humanity’s wealth.
Defenders of living heritage gathered this year under the auspices of UNESCO in Kasane, Botswana.
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